Dennis Morrisseau, a retired Vermont businessman who is running in the Republican primary for Vermont’s seat in the House of Representavies, has sent an open letter to Congress calling on the federal legislature to fulfill their Consitutional responsibilities regarding the commitment of US forces to combat. “The power and responsibility to declare war are yours alone under the Constitution and cannot be delegated,” Morrisseau told Congress.
Three times now you have evaded your Constitutional responsibility to Declare War (or not) leaving the decision in the hands of Presidents: Truman in Korea, Lyndon Johnson in Vietnam, Bush in Iraq and Afganistan. The power and responsibility to declare war are yours alone under the Constitution and cannot be delegated. The United States cannot legally wage war unless you declare war. Since there is and was no emergency in Iraq, we are not now “at war” there in any sense under domestic (U.S.) law; and the President must there-fore manage this conflict subject to full Congressional oversight in all things.
The Bush Administration is now seriously looking at an expansion of the present conflict, perhaps into Syria or Iran. The use of nuclear weapons by U.S. forces is under discussion. Secretary Rice, speaking for the President, has ruled nothing out, and has clearly stated his view that he is free to do as he wishes in the matter of an expanded conflict in the Moslem world, without consulting Congress.
In light of this, and mindful also of the gravity of our situation and yours, I think you need to declare whether we are “at war” or not in Iraq as a matter of law. In addition, you should DECLARE WE ARE NOT NOW AT WAR with Iran, or Syria, or Korea. Thus, putting the President on notice that Congress has forbidden an attack on these countries with-out consultation and a new formal Declaration of War.
Sincerely,
Dennis Morrisseau,
U.S. Citizen
We’ll have more later on the 1973 War Powers Act and the constitutional issues surrounding it and the decisions to to war both before it was passed in 1973 — Korea and Vietnam — and since then, in Grenada, Panama, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Vermont Congressional candidate challenges Congress on war powers
Dennis Morrisseau, a retired Vermont businessman who is running in the Republican primary for Vermont’s seat in the House of Representavies, has sent an open letter to Congress calling on the federal legislature to fulfill their Consitutional responsibilities regarding the commitment of US forces to combat. “The power and responsibility to declare war are yours alone under the Constitution and cannot be delegated,” Morrisseau told Congress.
We’ll have more later on the 1973 War Powers Act and the constitutional issues surrounding it and the decisions to to war both before it was passed in 1973 — Korea and Vietnam — and since then, in Grenada, Panama, Afghanistan and Iraq.